the project’s chain were invited to see the castings and provide feedback. “Getting that first article done and understanding that you’ve laid the part out properly, and have machined it within the plane is why we do the 3-D overlay,” Braun said. “Or we’ll lay it out and then send them the file, and they will then put it in the envelope to make sure that it complies. Once you’ve got that locked down, then you can be sure your subsequent parts are going to yield the precision that’s required in the dimensional component.” Other manufacturing processes
theoretically could have been used to create this component. Casting, how- ever, brought many distinct advan- tages. Beyond the aesthetics, it holds an ability to handle a bigger range of challenges, not to mention the absence of weld joints, leading to more capa- bility to handle stresses. “One of the advantages is the abil-
ity to make shapes that are aestheti- cally pleasing to an architect,” Braun said. “If you combine those with the various grades and strengths that steel offers in addition to its weldability, it really gives you a number of options
that allow you to cast shapes that are extraordinarily difficult or almost impossible to fabricate.” Projects like these have another
advantage: it can help a firm like Bradken continue to make its mark in the architectural world. Brad- ken is a member of the American Institute of Steel Construction, and Braun and de Oliviera have given co-talks on the use of steel castings
and the benefits they can bring. “We can say not only do we believe
this, we’re actually doing it and we’ve done it in this example, this example and this example,” Braun said. “You don’t want somebody who’s never done one before that says ‘Yeah, I think we can cast that shape,’ because it’s about understanding what you’re casting, why you’re casting and what’s impor- tant on that casting.” ■
Mar/Apr 2016 | METAL CASTING DESIGN & PURCHASING | 31
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